Trending
By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Dominic DeLuca is a prime example of a walk-on player's dream.
Even though he was Pennsylvania's Class 3A Player of the Year coming out of high school, he wasn't highly recruited. His mind was set on Penn State as a preferred walk-on.
The confidence in himself has netted DeLuca everything a walk-on could ever want. He's been a developmental squad defensive player of the year his true freshman season in 2021. He won the team's Outstanding Run-On award last year as a redshirt freshman. In this year's preseason, he earned the No. 0 jersey, which is awarded to a "tough, disciplined, dependable, physical leader."
He was also put on scholarship earlier this year, and named a team captain by his teammates.
DeLuca showed that none of it was an accident as the linebacker returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown in Saturday's 63-7 blowout victory over Delaware.
DeLuca took advantage of a good pass rush on Blue Hen QB Zach Marker, who had to make a quick throw, and DeLuca got the pick and raced the 26 yards untouched.
"All my boys were congratulating me in the end zone," DeLuca said. "There's nothing better than that."
Defensively, DeLuca is only a small example of the depth that the Lions' defense has this season. The Lions' second and third-string players were on the field for most of the second half.
"To be able to get guys more experience, you can't take that for granted," Nits safety Keaton Ellis said. "You only get 12 games a season."
Delaware got their lone score on a 66-yard run by Marcus Yarns. They gained just 16 more yards on the ground the rest of the day.
"Defensively, I thought we played pretty well," PSU coach James Franklin said. "We had one play where we were not gap-sound. The ball found that gap, and they have some talented guys that can run. It's just an example that everyone has to do their job on a consistent basis."
Just two series' before DeLuca's pick-6, Penn State got their first turnover of the season as Ellis forced a fumble on a rush from Yarns. Kevin Winston Jr. recovered the fumble.
No PSU defensive player was credited with more than four tackles for the day, but there were also four sacks — one each from Zane Durant, Jaylen Reed, Jameial Lyons and Zuriah Fisher.
It may be an FCS opponent in Delaware. The Blue Hens have a solid program at that level, but it's still the FCS. Still, the Lions' defense were credited with their fair share of highlights.
"I'm just glad that the D line got their pass rush and got the ball out quick, and I was just able to make a play," DeLuca said.